A 2026 Guide by Sellingantiques
Pair of Fine Quality Bedside Tables, 19th Century
Priced at £1,250 from Youlls Antiques
Eighteenth-century bedrooms relied on enclosed pot cupboards rather than the open tables we expect today.
France developed the cylindrical somno during the Empire period. These heavy pedestals often featured marble tops and a single curved door.
Look at late Georgian examples to see the shift towards lighter forms. A tray top with carrying handles became a standard feature.
Matched pairs only became common practice towards the end of the Victorian era. Earlier bedrooms typically featured a single unit.
Gillows of Lancaster supplied numerous mahogany pot cupboards between 1770 and 1840. Their pieces often feature distinctively reeded legs.
Thomas Chippendale's workshop produced refined night tables in the mid-eighteenth century. His documented commissions include square examples with pierced fretwork galleries.
French ébénistes like Jean-Henri Riesener made elaborate bedside commodes during the Louis XVI period.
Pair French Mahogany Bedside Lamp Tables, 1920
Priced at £895 from Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
The 2026 retail price guide for Antique Bedside Tables is drawn from a proprietary archive of over 1.1 million retail prices indexed by Sellingantiques since 2003. This guide relies exclusively on their own internal data; no external sources or auction records are used.
Analysing nearly 25 years of UK antique market history alongside current retail values, the data indicates that typical UK retail prices for Antique Bedside Tables range between £400 and £1,800. Entry-level prices generally fall under £400 and premium examples upwards of £1,800.
Raised galleries around the top edge stopped candles and washbowls from sliding off in the dark.
Tambour fronts appear on finer Georgian models. These slatted wooden screens slide smoothly away into the carcase sides.
Pull out the lower drawer on early pieces. It often comes forward as a deep step to help access high beds.
Hand-cut dovetails join the drawer linings on Georgian and Victorian pieces.
Look closely at the door hinges. Early craftsmen used small brass butt hinges set flush into the solid timber frame.
Panel construction allowed the wood to move with changing humidity. A floating central panel sits loose inside a rigid grooved framework.
"Many early examples feature false drawer fronts. The brass handles look standard but actually pull open a single cupboard door."
"Notice the small cut-out holes on the sides of tray tops. Servants used these grips to carry the whole unit downstairs for cleaning."
"High-end French nightstands sometimes incorporate a secondary marble shelf lower down specifically to hold a reading lamp."
Based on almost 25 years of Sellingantiques UK antique market data, Antique Bedside Tables appeared 4786 times (out of 1,100,000 antiques) which gives it a rarity score of 38/100.
This score measures scarcity within the Sellingantiques archive only and is not a survey of the entire antiques market, so these statistics may not be indicative of the general availability of Antique Bedside Tables elsewhere.
Wipe the marble down with a damp cloth and mild soap. Avoid acidic cleaners entirely. Vinegar or lemon will etch the polished stone surface.
If the marble has yellowed over time, a specialist stone poultice might lift the deeper stains. Routine dusting is usually enough for daily care.
Finding an exact match is difficult because early antique bedside tables rarely started out as pairs. Eighteenth and nineteenth-century bedrooms typically used a single pot cupboard tucked away in a corner.
Pairs only became standard factory output late in the Victorian period. If you own an earlier piece, pairing it with something similar in timber and height is often the most practical solution.
Yes. The canvas backing that holds the wooden slats together degrades over time. A restorer removes the tambour curtain and glues a new canvas strip to the back.
Waxing the running grooves helps the door slide smoothly again once the backing is fixed.
Unfinished secondary woods naturally absorb moisture and odours over the decades. The rough interior is standard practice. Makers rarely wasted time smoothing drawer linings that nobody saw.
Leave the drawer open in a dry room for a few days. Placing a bowl of baking soda inside the empty drawer can help draw out persistent stale smells.
Please note: This Antique Bedside Tables guide and its associated pricing data are provided for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute formal financial, investment, or appraisal advice and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for any commercial activity, purchasing, or sales decisions. Sellingantiques.co.uk accepts no liability for any actions taken in reliance on this information. Always consult with a qualified professional or independent appraiser.
